Posted on 07/02/2009 6:15:45 AM PDT by naturalman1975
A rare copy of the United States Declaration of Independence worth thousands of pounds has been discovered in Britain.
The document, which is in perfect condition, is believed to be one of only 200 ever printed and was found among files at the National Archives in Kew.
An American antiquarian bookseller carrying out research found the Dunlap print of the declaration which was printed on July 4, 1776.
The discovery brings the total of known surviving copies worldwide to 26.
The last discovery of a Dunlap print was at a flea market in 1989, and it sold at auction in 2000 for $8.14 million (£4.94m).
Dunlaps were the first official printings of the Declaration of Independence and were named after John Dunlap, the printer whose name is given at the bottom of each copy.
This manuscript was hidden among correspondence from American colonists that had been intercepted by the British in the 18th century.
The finding of the poster-size document brings the number of copies held at the National Archives to three. But despite its value, National Archives spokeswoman Mel Hide said they will not be selling the print.
She said: 'We will protect and preserve this copy. It is unlikely to go on display because we already have one on show at the Archive's museum.'
But she did not rule out a trip across the Atlantic Ocean for the manuscript.
'The Americans are very excited by it. We do often loan out our key documents and I'm sure if an American institution wanted to borrow it, we would consider lending it to them.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Well, I glad they found a copy someplace!
Sure as hell ain’t none in Washington DC anymore.
Maybe if they keep looking, they might stumble onto zer0’s birth certificate, too! };-)
Not quite as rare as Obama’s birth certificate, school records, and senior thesis, though.
They better sell while it still holds value. . .a couple of more years of Obambi and it won’t be worth the paper upon which it is written.
We in Great Briton would like to congratulate you Yanks on the anniversary of your Independence from this sovereign crown.
You in America call it Independence day and the Forth of July.
While we here still fondly refer to it as...High treason.
:o)
Hide it again until 0buma is out of office!!! He may send troops over to destroy it!!!!/s
Treason never prospers.
What’s the reason?
Because if it doth prosper,
None dare call it treason.
Looks like it is in great shape. Can I have it?
I loved Lovejoy!
Stupid question...Didn’t King George III receive one in 1776?
I’ve always wondered: what happened to the copy they sent to King George?
Well apparently, it got lost in the mail.
ping!
Is there a treasure map on the back?
George III was sent two copies of the Dunlap printing.
I believe - cannot swear to it - that the two copies sent to King George III are in the hand of the British Public Record Office - one in the Colonial records, one in the Admiralty records.
Yeah, but you need special glasses to read it...
The DEA siezed it and burned it - it was printed on hemp vellum.
A most appropriate subject as we approach the Fourth of July.
(As a Washingtonian it took a lot for me to post TJ's portrait, but he was the main author of the DoI)
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list
Freepmail me to get on or off...and HAPPY FOURTH!
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